In 2004, John Magnuson unveiled the history of the Sportsmans Dinner (aka The Wild Game Dinner).  Most people know that the first Wild Game Dinner was held on November 13, 1970, costing the club $270 for the social event.  And while some may argue that a few of Magnuson's historical footnotes to this event may be off a bit (some would say WAY off), this is the recorded history as printed in the Lakewood Rotary Bulletin ("The Lakewood Key").  It was in print, so it must be true:

News of the Day:  PRESIDENT BEN SCLAIR MISSES THE MEETING!

Wait....that's not news is it.   Or so say the Puffins, who roasted our beloved President Ben with gusto.  And evident joy.  But he really didn't miss the meeting: he was just "late".  Given what it cost him, maybe he should have missed the meeting!

Puffins presiding:  Substitute President Mike Johnson, Tom Crabill, and returning Puffins John Lowney and Homer Dodge. 

Visiting Rotarians: Keith Galbraith and "Jack" the Black Labrador from Parkland Spanaway
Lew and Ardell Samdal - Ardell is Prez of Parkland Spanaway and a UND grad.
Pepe Holf 

PRESIDING: President Ben Sclair, clad in shorts on this crisp, clear December day, rang the bell promptly at 12:30 p.m. and another Rotary meeting was on its way.

INVOCATION: Bob Peterson stepped right up to help when the assigned "invocator" (that's not a word!) was a few minutes late. How many Rotarians carry a handy dandy invocation in their wallet just in case? OK. One is all it takes.

PLEDGE: Terry Roarke started us off on the Pledge to our Flag.

PAUL HARRIS DESK: Bob Zawilski

VISITING ROTARIANS: Bill Price announced visitors including ADG John Anderson of Sumner, Bert Stibbe of Sumner, and Charlie Lippman from out of town. (I forgot to write that down.) At that point, Cindy Thompson came in late and was fined $50 for taking a late nap when she was scheduled to do the invocation. Bob Peterson did not step forward and pay her fine.

Past President (and Marine) Tom Sadler called the meeting to order at 12:29 p.m. 11-11-11. He was anxious to get going on time while filling in for President Ben Sclair who was AWOL. Tom’s suit was pressed and shoes shined, but he was concerned about getting it back before extra charges were levied.

Service to the club was rendered by Bill Young, Sgt at Arms and Raffle, Mike McGowan and Gary Fulton at the Paul Harris desk, Judy Hosea led the pledge and is serving as your scribe. Jim Early is the official photographer. Mary Covelli Johnson gave a very meaningful Veteran’s Day invocation.

In his best (only?) Friday shorts and fleece (FSF), Current President (CP) Ben struck the bell at precisely 1230, signaling to all that the weekend was but 90 minutes away, maybe less for the Prez… Mike McGowan presided at the Paul Harris desk, Past President (PP) Mary Lou Sclair sold us on the weekly drawing, and Bill Young did double duty as Sgt at Arms and lead photographer. The invocation was offered by Lenny Holmes, and PP Dave Betz led us in the salute to our flag.

The First Inning

What do you do when your leader is gone? If you’re Lakewood Rotary, you dredge up one of the old Past Presidents (heavy on the "old") and you see what happens. This week’s Old President was none other than Bob Zawilski, or as some still call him, "Zawalski". PP Bob tried valiantly to be "Casual Yet Respectful", or whatever President Ben’s motto is. Bob stripped himself of suit jacket and tie, and put on a fleece vest. A valiant try, indeed. But he didn’t attempt the bare legs part. (For the record: there was no power point to be found.)

In chronological order, beginning well before 12:30:

 Set-up & Tear-down – Duncan Cook & Mary Moss

 Paul Harris Desk and daily raffle ticket sales – was manned by two extremely talented Rotarians. I just can’t remember who, but you know who you are. Thank you.

 Sgt. at Arms – Bill Young

 Invocation – Our invocator was not present, so President Ben invoked "a moment of silence to reflect." After a lengthy period of reflection, Richard Simmons piped up with the observation, "Nice job, Mr. President".

 Pledge of Allegiance – Chris Kimball

President Ben Sclair called us to order right on time for another wacky, informal but respectful Lakewood Rotary meeting.

The Invocation was delivered with the rhythm and grace of an accomplished musician by Chris Kimball, who did not miss a beat.

The Pledge of Allegiance to our flag was led by long time member, Mo Sarram.

Past President Mick Johnson held court at the Paul Harris desk and the Sergeant at Arms was Bill Young, with lots of help from the indomitable Richard Simmons. The very busy official Photographer was Dr. Jim Early. This bulletin was by Joe Quinn, but blame any errors on my Editor. (Editor’s Note: No, that’s not how it works.)

Rotarians Up in Arms! Yikes!

September 30th Meeting of the Rotary Club of Lakewood

Armed with fork instead of pen, your scribe was caught unaware when President Ben called the meeting to order on a blustery and slightly damp afternoon. (Later Prez. Ben explained that the Lakewood Rotary Board was "back to Rotary business" and not working on the weather….thus, it was raining!)

Just as President Ben was ready to ring the 12:30 starting bell some of our sharper Rotarians noticed that it wasn’t President Ben at the podium. It kind of looked like Ben, dressed in khaki shorts, but he had filled out a bit, was now wearing glasses, and was sporting some very stylish black knee-high stockings like a Scotsman might wear below his kilts. And he was wearing a stylish tan two-button blazer. Like something you would see in the latest issue of GQ (Gentleman’s Quarterly.)

Whoa! Was there a time warp going on here? Had time moved forward or backward? Some of the ladies went running to nearby houses looking for a pair of trousers to cover up those legs.

We all had to stop for a minute while we adjusted our clocks backward 21 years (kind of like you do when you enter Idaho.)

President Ben Sclair, in all his officialdom, strode in with determination (in shorts, of course) and brought us to order at 12:31pm – Assisting him today were:
Paul Harris Desk - Steve Enquist
Sgt At Arms - Bill Price & Richard Simmons
Bulletin – PP Dave Covey

Setup – Duncan Cook
Photographer - Oops
Invocation – PP Cindy Thompson
Pledge – PP John Magnuson

Canadian National Anthem–WE (Lakewood Rotary?) sang to honor our DG & his wife.

The last Friday meeting completely under President Mick Johnson’s control started off in unusual fashion: Mick rang the bell, then immediately burst into an outstanding version of Kool & the Gang’s "I just want to celebrate", complete with leg kicks, and then he segued nicely into the Invocation of Chris Kimball and the Pledge led by Greg Horn. Mick paused briefly, then began crooning, "Celebrate, Celebrate, Dance to the Music!", made famous by Three Dog Night, before announcing that Jim Schultz had ably manned the Paul Harris desk while Bill Young was the ever-vigilant Sgt at Arms while also serving as the ever-artistic staff photographer.

Jim Schultz was manning the Paul Harris station as each of us move towards our next award!

Bill Price was the Sergeant-at-Arms and indeed he did bring both of his arms with him so that he could help all of us put that check mark by our names!  The great conversation that happens at the desk line easily distracts me and I walk by it unthinkingly.  Thanks for all your assists Bill.

President-Elect Ben Sclair called our meeting to order at precisely 12:30 p.m.  He was decked out in the latest fashion, a nice pair of shorts revealing his even nicer tanned legs.  He then called on PP Cindy Thompson to give the invocation and Jim Sharp to lead us in the pledge to our flag.  Bill Young was our Sgt.-at-Arms.

May 20, 2011 - Spring Arrives: Finally, Lakewood Rotary could enjoy a 70 degree day. President Mick mentioned the beautiful day, but one senses Mick doesn’t want to step down. In his warped Presidential mind (after 10+ months of being barraged by how great he is) he’s organized a secret grass roots re-nomination committee in an attempt to stop the Sclair Political Machine in its tracks. It’s either that or he’s heavily invested in oil stocks and hates to have the thermostats go up! NOTE: If you’re scratching your head, this is a traditional bulletin start that has nothing to do with what took place in the meeting ……… kinda makes you want to actually attend Lakewood Rotary instead of reading this drivel (from the liberal press).

For all of you who have been sitting around just waiting for this issue of the Lakewood Rotary Bulletin, may I offer my apologies for the late submission….you see:

Helpers on this Friday include:

Bud Montgomery (tanned and well rested)….Paul Harris Desk

Jay Mayer…Sgt at Arms and Raffle

Scott Buser….Invocation

Mary Lou Sclair…Salute to our Flag

Bob Zawilski…Photographer

Judy Hosea….Scribe

President Mick Johnson…..In Charge

At precisely 11:29 PDT, President Mick Johnson struck the bell with real gusto, bringing us to some semblance of order for the 45th week of his admirable term of office. He gleefully reminded us he has but "six weeks to go…" Robert Peterson offered a thoughtful and thankful invocation in remembrance of those who protect us, those who lead us, and Mothers (who do all of the above and more) finishing with a special thought for Dave Betz, that was either a prayerful request for, or dire warning of, freezing rain in Hawaii. Gayle Selden stepped up to lead us in the pledge, Bill Price Sgt. At Arms, Gary Fulton at the Paul Harris desk, Bill Young taking the pictures, and your newest scribe seated next to Greg I (or Rediske II) for moral and technical support.

In the words of some clever collegiate ditty writer:

“Another busy week has passed;
sweedle dee dum dum,
And Friday night has come at last,
sweedle dee dum dum.
Sweedle dee, sweedle dee,
sweedle dee dum dum.” 

The Alpha Delta Phi fraternity at the University of Washington boasts several Lakewood Rotarians and legacies. Sam Hunter, PP Dave Covey, PP John Magnuson, former member and son of PP Paul Reeder - Brian Reeder, Garrett Lordahl - son of PP Bob Lordahl and occasional Gig Harbor visitor Lee Gingrich. The reason this is important is that on Friday afternoons we all gathered at “The House” and sang that song, among others. Moreover Chris Miller, Alpha Delt Alum from Dartmouth was the original author of the story of Animal House. Truly an American Classic of Crude Humor, it was filmed at PP Norm Tremaine’s favorite college campus, home of The Anarchists, The University of Oregon. Now, if you think for one minute that is too much irrelevant information, read on! And thus begins this week’s Bulletin.

PRESIDING:  President Mick Johnson gonged us to order promptly at 12:30 p.m.  Too bad...just when he is getting really good at this Prez stuff--running the meeting--we have to replace him...pretty soon.

INVOCATION:   Bob Gee delivered a nice invocation, but this reporter felt it would be disrespectful to take notes, so the eloquence was lost (just like the short term memory).

PLEDGE:   Leon Titus made a rare appearance, so President Mick made him lead us in the Pledge.  Just kidding, Leon!

PAUL HARRIS DESK:  Mike McGowan

Bedecked in his usual sartorial splendor, President Mick Johnson restored order to the room at precisely 12:30 pm on Friday, April 15, 2011. Do you realize that it is exactly 20,078 days since the chartering of the Rotary Club of Lakewood in 1956? And do you realize that the anniversary of that chartering will occur in a mere 10 days, April 25? And do you further realize that your current president of this very same Rotary club made carpeting industry history when, in 1975, he adamantly refused to install one more yard of green shag carpet, thus beginning the downfall of that once popular flooring design? All hail President Johnson and the Rotary Club of Lakewood!!

Sportsman’s Dinner’s a Success
Dateline Apr 9, 2011
McGavick Center, CP Tech College, Lakewood, WA

 Wait a minute, we’re getting ahead of ourselves, wasn’t there a regular Rotary meeting on Friday?  OK, President Mick Johnson rang the bell on time, Lenny Holmes gave the invocation. The front table had Cindy Thompson and Morris Northcutt juggling last minute table requests/changes for the Sportsman’s Dinner, Mike McGowan extracting RI Foundation moneys, Lowell Johnson selling the few BIG raffle tickets remaining and Bill Price selling little raffle tickets.  In addition Richard Simmons was Sgt at Arms, Duncan Cook Setup and the bulletin is a tag-team of Homer Dodge & Dave Covey.

He looked at his watch.  Then he looked again.  Then again, only to discover the same result: 12:30.  And yet there were so few people there, several tables completely empty.  He thought, “What did I say last week…..?”  President Mick finally called the meeting to order, despite the fact that there was no disorder.  He did have a look of confusion on his face you don’t often witness, however….perhaps seen only by Mary when Mick arrives home and doesn’t see his dinner ready.  See below.

PRESIDING:  President Mick Johnson rang the bell promptly at 12:30 p.m. and another Rotary meeting was in play.

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE:   Dan Livingston delivered the invocation and President-Elect Ben Sclair led us in the pledge to our flag.

PAUL HARRIS DESK:  Gary Fulton

VISITING ROTARIANS:.  Bill Price announced visitors including ADG John Anderson of Sumner and...well I guess he was the only one.

March Begins Like a LAMB!
President Mick Johnson rang the bell for our first meeting in March to a lightly attended meeting.  Where was everyone? Spring break?  State basketball tourney?  Preparing income tax? No, that couldn't be, Lakewood Rotarians wouldn't do that until April 14th.  As we get closer to the Sportsman's Dinner, we know the energy & excitement will kick in! Now, let's get out there and bring back some auction items!  Oops, sorry to scoop this week's bulletin feature story we'll just stick to the facts!
Behind the Scenes Help for this Lakewood Rotary Meeting: 
Rotary Foundation Desk - PP Gary Fulton Sgt at Arms  Bill Young  Invocation Chris Kimball Pledge PP Greg Rediske
Bulletin Writer  PP Dave Covey Photographer PP Greg Horn
Sportsman's Dinner  PDG Dave & PP Mary Lou Sclair Setup  Duncan Cook
DISCLAIMER:  Many Rotarians skim or speed read the bulletin.  Some don't even see it so we've formatted everything to emphasize the main ideas.  33 Rotarians in this one, are you one of them?